Reduced friction kicking tee

ABSTRACT

A reduced friction kicking tee that can be used in a game that includes kicking a ball off a tee. The reduced friction kicking tee may include a base and at least two ball supports extending away from said base. A first ball support and a second ball support may be spaced apart laterally at a distance that is less than a width of a game ball. At least one of the first ball support and the second ball support may comprise a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of each support. In one embodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directional roller. In one embodiment the game ball may be a rugby ball and each of the first ball support and the second ball support includes said friction reducing member at its free end. In one embodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directional roller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/393,912, filed Sep. 13, 2016, entitled “Reduced Friction KickingTee” to Eric Masterson, currently pending, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of rugby, the team that scores the most points wins. Inscoring points, team can score a try (worth five points), a conversionkick (worth two points), and a penalty kick or drop kick (worth threepoints). Kicking has always been an important feature in the game ofrugby.

After a team scores a try, the team will kick a conversion try in anattempt to add two points to the score with a conversion kick. Aconversion kick includes kicking the ball off the ground through theuprights and over the crossbar. The placement of the ball in aconversion kick corresponds to the location along the width of the fieldwhere the ball was grounded when the try was scored. Thus, there arenumerous times that the kick must be performed from a position that isat a substantial angle from the goal posts, and not straight on. Often,when kicking toward the goal post from an angle, this requires the kickto be performed at an increase in the distance up field from the goalposts in order to obtain an angle of approach that increases thelikelihood of the ball traveling through the uprights of the goal post.

Further, a team may utilize a penalty kick in certain situations.Similar to a conversion kick, the ball is kicked from a stationaryposition. As a penalty kick is worth three points, it would be desirableto increase the length and accuracy of these kicks to allow moreopportunities for a team to accumulate points through a number penaltykicks.

To date, there are a number of tees which are used to hold a rugby ballduring conversion and penalty kicks. These tees are generally hardplastic with a number of extensions which extend to support the rugbyball. These tees are solid material and provide a stationary contactpoint with the ball. Thus, often the support points of existing tees actas a point of friction upon contact with the ball and often affects theflight path of the ball if the ball is not struck perfectly. This issimilar to what happens when a golf ball is not struck perfectly andspin can be introduced on the ball effecting the flight trajectory,flight distance, and flight path. These points of friction affect boththe distance of rugby kick and its accuracy. Thus, the effect offriction due to tees currently in the art becomes more pronounced duringkicks of longer distances.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved kicking teewhich reduces the effects of friction on the ball to improve both theflight distance and the accuracy of the kicks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A reduced friction kicking tee that can be used in a game that includeskicking a ball off a tee. The reduced friction kicking tee may include abase and at least two ball supports extending away from said base. Thebase may have any overall shape, with an embodiment having athree-legged Y-shaped base. Other embodiments may include a morering-like shape wherein the base comprises a sidewall that surrounds theperimeter of a ring shape. The surfaces of the sidewall may includeundulations.

A first ball support and a second ball support may be spaced apartlaterally at a distance that is less than a width of a game ball. In oneembodiment a third ball support is disposed opposite the first andsecond ball support to provide three support points of the ball as itrests on the tee. In one embodiment, one or more ball may projectupwardly from a base at the same or different heights. In anotherembodiment, one or more ball support may be integrated into a wall ofthe tee.

At least one of the first ball support and the second ball support maycomprise a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of eachsupport. In one embodiment, both the first and second ball supportsinclude friction reducing members disposed at the free end. In oneembodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directionalroller. In other embodiments, the friction reducing member may be one ofa roller, a caster, a material of less friction than the remainder ofthe tee, or any other friction reducing mechanism now known or hereafterdeveloped. In one embodiment the game ball may be a rugby ball. Further,the present kicking tee may have one or more alignment aids printed orformed thereon.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments andthe accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to beread in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals areemployed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a reduced frictionkicking tee in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking teeof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of a reducedfriction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of a reducedfriction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kickingtee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a reducedfriction kicking tee in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking teeof FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of a reducedfriction kicking tee of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a reduced frictionkicking tee of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the present invention referencesthe accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments inwhich the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended todescribe aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodimentscan be utilized and changes can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention isdefined by the appended claims and, therefore, the description is not tobe taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The present invention is a reduced friction kicking tee 10 which reducesthe contact friction at one or more support points. As shown in FIG. 1,kicking tee 10 includes a base 12, a first ball support 14, a secondball support 16 and a third ball support 18. Ball supports 14, 16, and18 may be an arm extending away from base 12, or any raised portionwhich provides a localized area of contact with the surface of a ball.First ball support 14 includes a first friction reducing member 20 andsecond ball support 16 includes second friction reducing member 22. Inthis embodiment, third ball support 18 does not include a frictionreducing member, but a friction reducing member incorporated into thirdball support 18 is within the scope of the present invention. First ballsupport 14 and second ball support 16 are spaced laterally apart at adistance that is less than a width dimension of a ball. Moreover, firstball support 14, second ball support 16, and third ball support 18 eachgenerally include a first end 15 coupled to said base and a free end 17for engaging a ball. The ball will preferably be a rugby ball, but thepresent invention may be used in other sports where kicking is acomponent.

As further shown in FIG. 1, base 12 may include a plurality of armsextending outwardly from a center region 24. Base 12 may include a firstarm 26, a second arm 28 and a third arm 30 extending away from centerregion 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, first arm 26 and secondarm 28 are orientated at an angle θ1 that is less than ninety degreeswith and first arm 26 and second arm 28 being orientated a substantiallyequal angles γ2 and γ3 from third arm 30 respectively. In alternativeembodiments, first arm 26, second arm 28 and third arm 30 are orientatedat equal angles near one-hundred twenty (120) degrees. However, anyangular orientation between first arm 26, second arm 28 and third arm 30is within the scope of the present invention.

In another embodiment, base 12 may be any shape, including square,circular or elliptical, either a solid, ring, or hollow shape, with ballsupports extending upwardly to support a ball. In one embodiment (notshown), base 12 may include a spacing adjustment mechanism which allowsthe distance between the fore ball supports (18 in FIG. 1) and the backball supports (14 and 16 in FIG. 1). For example, base 12 may be twoparts which are slidably engaged at a location between the fore and backball supports wherein the relative position of the ball supports may beadjusted to toward and/or away from each other. In addition, a fixingdevice may be implemented to fix the relative position of the fore andback ball supports so the distance between the fore and back ballsupports until a further adjustment is desired. Adjusting the distancebetween the fore and back ball supports provides the ability for akicker to adjust the angle at which the ball lies on the kicking tee 10with respect to the supporting surface/ground. A closer distance betweenfore and back ball supports provides a more upright or verticalorientation and a further distance provides a more lateral orientationrelative to the ground.

In an embodiment not shown, base 12 may also include a plurality ofsupport legs extending downward (not shown) from base 12 extending in adirection substantially opposite of ball supports. One or more of thesupport legs may rest on the ground during a kick. Base support legs mayalso be adjustable using a set screw, a screw adjustment,interchangeable legs, or other known method of providing an adjustablelength member, so that the length of support leg can be adjusted so asto increase or decrease the height at which the ball is supported offthe support surface/ground. In one embodiment, a support leg is a spacerblock or ring which attaches to an underside of base 12, whereinmultiple spacer blocks may be connected in series to provide a number ofball support heights.

As shown in FIG. 3, an alignment aid 34 may be incorporated on base 12,wherein alignment aid 34 may be printed on or formed into the surface ofkicking tee 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, third ball support 18 is araised element with a slot 32 which may be centered on third ballsupport 18 wherein the slot 32 and the alignment aid 34 can be used toalign the tee and direct the kick.

As shown in FIG. 5, first ball support 14 has a height H1 and secondball support 16 has a height H2, wherein in one embodiment, H1 and H2are substantially equivalent. As further shown in FIG. 5, H1 and H2 areis higher than a height of the free end 17 of third ball support 18, H3.This orientation provides the ball to be at an angle when held on thetee 10. Heights H1, H2, and H3 specifically and, generally, the heightfor any or all of the ball supports may be fixed or adjustable throughthe use of an adjustment mechanism (not shown). The height differenceand the distance between the backmost ball support(s) and the forwardmost ball support(s) will inform the angular orientation that the ballcan be positioned during a kick.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, first ball support 14 and secondball support 16 each include a friction reducing member 20 and 22,respectively. As such, as the ball moves forward past first ball support14 and second ball support 16 upon a kick, the friction reducing members20 and 22 allow the ball to move relative to the tee 10 and ballsupports 14 and 16 with little friction. Upon the impact of a footagainst a ball, there is often a component of the movement that isparallel to the ground. In some cases, the surface of the compressedball at impact may engage the forward supports 14 and 16. Thus,optimizing the angular orientation of the friction reducing members 20and 22 may result in less friction upon impact.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first friction reducing member 20 may beorientated on first ball support 14 at an angle γ4 from vertical andsecond friction reducing member 22 may be orientated on second ballsupport 16 at an angle γ5 from vertical, wherein the angular orientationmaybe inward toward the opposing support arm. Typically γ4 and γ5 willbe identical. In one embodiment, angles γ4 and γ5 may be in a rangebetween zero and forty-five degrees. Further, turning back to FIG. 4,second ball support 16 and/or second friction reducing member 22 may beorientated on second ball support 16 at an angle γ6 from vertical towardthird ball support 18. In one embodiment, angle γ6 may be in a rangebetween zero and forty-five degrees. First ball support 14 and/or firstfriction reducing member 20 may have a similar angular orientation fromvertical in a direction toward third ball support 18. These angularorientations may be utilized so that the friction reducing members 20and 22 may engage the surface of the ball at a substantiallyperpendicular orientation. Depending upon the type of friction reducingmember 20 and 22, this may result in the least friction as the ballmoves relative to the support.

Friction reducing members 20 and 22 may be a single or multiplemulti-directional ball bearing, a roller, a caster, a material of lessfriction than the remainder of the tee, or any other friction reducingmechanism now known or hereafter developed. Friction reducing members 20and 22 may be fixed to the ball supports or may be replaceable so thatnew friction reducing members may be utilized if the others wear out.

In another embodiment of kicking tee 10′ shown in FIGS. 6-9, base 12′comprises a ring-like shape. As shown in FIG. 6, kicking tee 10′includes a fore end 36, a back end 38, and a continuous sidewall 40around the perimeter of kicking tee 10′ that defines an open center area42. Continuous sidewall 40 may include an inner surface 41 and an outersurface 43. FIGS. 7 and 8 best show that outer surface may beundulating, wherein inner surface may be more uniform. Moreover, thesidewall 40 may have varying or constant widths. Sidewall 40 extendsupward from a bottom surface 44 of kicking tee 10′. Kicking tee 10′ alsoincludes first ball support 14′ disposed in an opposing relationship tosecond ball support 16′, wherein both first ball support 14′ and secondball support 16′ are integrated into the continuous sidewall 40. Firstball support 14′ includes first friction reducing member 20 and secondball support 16′ includes second friction reducing member 22 as shown.

As further shown in FIG. 6, kicking tee 10′ may include a fore angledwall top surface 46 and a back angled wall top surface 48. As shown inFIG. 6, ball supports 14′ and 16′ are the high points. Fore angled walltop surface 46 and back angled wall top surface 48 respectively slopedownardly and away from the ball supports 14′ and 16′ toward the bottomsurface 44. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, kicking tee 10′ may alsoinclude third ball support 18′, which in this embodiment is a portion offore angled wall top surface 46. The bearing location of a rugby ball onthird ball support 18 on fore angled wall top surface 46 will dependupon the angular orientation of the ball as it sits on kicking tee 10′and the v-shaped wall allows for the angle of the ball to be adjusted byplacing the narrowing end of a rugby ball at different locations withinthe V-shape.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, in one embodiment, a fore portion of thefore angled wall top surface 46 has a steeper slope than a mid-portionof the fore angled wall top surface 46. In addition, fore angled walltop surface 46 may also include a depression 50. Depression 50 may beshaped having an area and a depth to allow for a portion of the rugbyball to rest wholly or partially within depression 50 on each opposingside of the continuous sidewall 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, kicking tee 10′ may also include slot 32′ which maybe centered on third support portion of sidewall 40. Kicking tee 10′ mayalso include alignment aid 34′, which in this embodiment is shown to bea v-shaped cut-out of sidewall 40. A kicker may look through slot 32 toview alignment aid 34 for aligning kicking tee 10′ at the goal post orother target.

In use, a rugby player will place the bottom surface 44 of kicking tee10 or 10′ on the ground and then place a rugby ball on kicking tee 10 or10′. The rugby ball will lie in an angular orientation relative to theground, typically with the high end pointing toward the goal post. Upona rugby player kicking the ball, the ball will begin to be propelledupward and laterally toward the goal post. The ball will engage at leastfriction reducing members 20 and 22, which decreases the frictionexperienced by the ball as the ball moves at least somewhat tangentiallyto the friction reducing members 20 and 22. One embodiment, whereinmulti-directional roller balls are friction reducing members 20 and 22,the rugby ball rolls off of the first and second support posts 14 or 14′and 16 or 16′ thus significantly reducing the frictional force appliedon the ball. Reducing the friction experience by the rugby ball during akick decreases the chances that the flight path of the ball will besignificantly affected due to friction when the ball starts its movementoff of support posts 14 or 14′, 16 or 16′ and 18 or 18′. This frictionreducing aspects of the present tee 10 or 10′ may significantly improvethe flight of a kicked ball when the ball is subject to an unbalancedfriction caused by either a mis-kick (impact is made on the ballslightly off center) or slight mis-alignment of the kicking tee andposition of the ball support legs. It can be appreciated that having theball support legs even slightly askew from perfect alignment will resultin different effects of that ball support leg on the flight path of theball. The friction reducing members mitigate these negative flighteffects due to friction the ball generally and as more pronounced due tooperational conditions. Thus, the kicking tee 10 and 10′ of the presentinvention allows for longer and straighter rugby kicks and also solves along-felt and unsolved need in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and iswithin the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of theinvention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it isalso to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and notlimiting.

The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in thedrawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended tolimit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, therehas been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention.As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of thepresent invention are not limited by the particular details of theexamples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that othermodifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur tothose skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similarterms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of“optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the presentconstruction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. Allsuch changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention aredeemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by theclaims which follow.

I claim:
 1. A reduced friction kicking tee comprising: a base; at leasttwo ball supports extending away from said base, wherein a first ballsupport and a second ball support are spaced laterally apart at adistance that is less than a width dimension of a game ball; and whereinat least one of said first ball support and said second ball supportcomprises a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of saidsupport.
 2. The kicking tee of claim 1 wherein said friction reducingmember is a multi-directional roller.
 3. The kicking tee of claim 1wherein said game ball is a rugby ball and each of said first ballsupport and said second ball support includes said friction reducingmember at its free end.
 4. The kicking tee of claim 3 wherein saidfriction reducing member is a multi-directional roller.
 5. The kickingtee of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a continuous sidewalldefining a perimeter of said base.
 6. The kicking tee of claim 5,wherein said first ball support and said second ball support areintegral with said sidewall of said base.
 7. The kicking tee of claim 5,further comprising a third ball support, wherein said third ball supportcomprises a V-shaped portion of said sidewall of said base.
 8. Thekicking tee of claim 7, wherein said third ball support furthercomprises at least one depression in a top surface of said sidewall,said at least one depression disposed adjacent to said V-shaped portion.9. The kicking tee of claim 5, further comprising a third ball support,wherein said third ball support comprises a depression in a top surfaceof said side said sidewall.
 10. The kicking tee of claim 1, furthercomprising an alignment aid.
 11. The kicking tee of claim 10, furthercomprising a view notch, wherein said alignment aid and said view notchcooperate to allow a user to align the kicking tee.
 12. The kicking teeof claim 1, wherein said at least one friction reducing member isorientated at an inward angle in the direction toward a third ballsupport.
 13. The kicking tee of claim 1, wherein said first ball supportincludes a first friction reducing member and said second ball supportincludes a second friction reducing member, and wherein said firstfriction reducing member is orientated inwardly at a first angle in adirection toward said second friction reducing member, and said secondfriction reducing member is orientated inwardly at a second angle in adirection toward said first friction reducing member.
 14. The kickingtee of claim 13 further comprising a third ball support and wherein bothof said first friction reducing member and said second friction reducingmember are orientated at a third angle in a direction toward said thirdball support.
 15. The kicking tee of claim 13, wherein said first angleand said second angle are the same.